Italian for “year” - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Italian for “year”," is a classic example of a foreign language definition clue. These are common in crosswords and test a solver's breadth of knowledge. While it might seem daunting if you don't speak Italian, this particular word is one that has seeped into English through historical and cultural contexts, making it quite accessible.

Clue Analysis

The clue is straightforward: it asks for the direct translation of the English word "year" into Italian. There's no wordplay or trickery involved. The key is recognizing that the answer is a word you've likely encountered before, even if you didn't explicitly know it was Italian. The word is identical in Latin, which is why it appears in many historical phrases.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might tackle this clue in a few ways:

1. Direct Knowledge: If you have a background in Italian or other Romance languages, you might know this word immediately. The Spanish ano and French an are close cousins.
2. Phrase Association: The most common path to this answer for English speakers is through the phrase Anno Domini, which is Latin for "in the year of the Lord." This phrase, often abbreviated as A.D., is used to number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The word "Anno" is the key component.
3. Root Word Recognition: The word is related to English words like annual, anniversary, and annals, all of which pertain to years. Recognizing this shared Latin root (annus) can point you in the right direction.
4. Using Crossings: If you're unsure, getting a few letters from intersecting clues can be a huge help. The double 'N' in the middle is a distinctive feature, and once you have A-N-N-?, the answer often clicks into place.

Background Context

The word ANNO comes from the Latin annus, meaning "year." Its most famous usage is in the term Anno Domini (A.D.), a system of dating devised in 525 A.D. but not widely adopted in Europe until the 8th century.

In Italian, you'll see it used frequently, such as Buon anno! for "Happy New Year!" Its presence in crosswords is a testament to how certain foreign words become part of the shared vocabulary of educated English speakers, primarily through historical, artistic, or scientific contexts.

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of a fair and solvable foreign language question. It rewards general knowledge and the ability to make connections between languages and historical phrases. While a direct translation, its familiarity through Anno Domini makes it a satisfying fill for many solvers and a good entry point into a puzzle.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This word is often seen in historical contexts, especially when dating things.
2. Hint 2: It's part of a common Latin phrase used to denote a specific year.
3. Hint 3: Think of the phrase "___ Domini," often abbreviated as A.D.
4. Hint 4: The word is a palindrome.

The answer is ANNO.